Tag Archives: Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Joseph, Feast Day March 19

March 18, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19. St. Joseph is the patron for a happy death because tradition tells us that he died with Jesus and Mary at his side.

Joseph was engaged to be married to Mary, when she was found with child. He was going to divorce her quietly to avoid scandal, however an angel appeared to him in a dream, saying,

“Joseph, son of David, do no be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Mat: 1: 20-21

Joseph immediately took Mary as his wife. The angel appeared to Joseph a second time. This time he was told his family was in danger. They fled to Egypt where they stayed until the angel told him it was safe to return.
Joseph worked as a carpenter. He was the foster father of Jesus, loving him and providing for him and Mary. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are referred to as “The Holy Family”.
We celebrate two feast days for St. Joseph. The first is on March 19; Feast day of St. Joseph,Husband of Mary. The second feast day is May 1; The Feast day of St. Joseph the Worker.

Always keep your devotion to St. Joseph, as I do. He will be your guide and counselor, just as he was
to Our Lady.

Quote of St. John XXIII; Feast day October 11

March is the Month of St. Joseph

St. Joseph in Art

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Doctor of the Church, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Feast Day March 18

March 17, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Cyril of Jerusalem is celebrated on March 18.

St. Cyril was born in 315. He was raised in Jerusalem by a Christian family. Little is known about his early life. He was ordained by St. Maximus. He was a great instructor of catecheumans who were studying to become baptized into the church.

While serving as Bishop of Jerusalem, he was exiled from Jerusalem three times by the Arianists who denied the belief in the divinity of Christ. After his final return to Jerusalem he he attended the Council of Constantinople. He died in 386 at the age of 70.

St. Cyril is a Doctor of the Church.

If Christ could change water into wine, can He not change wine into His own blood?

Quote of St. Cyril of Jerusalem

March is the Month of St. Joseph

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Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Patrick, Feast Day March 17

March 16, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Patrick is celebrated on March 17. St. Patrick is the patron saint of slaves, Ireland and snakes.

St. Patrick was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland, in 387. His parents were Romans, living in Britain. At age 14 he was captured by a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave. As a slave, he tended to the sheep. He turned to God in prayer. His prayer “The Breastplate of St. Patrick” is well known.

Patrick was a slave until the age of 20. He received guidance in a dream. He was led to sailors who took him to Britain. In another dream, the people of Ireland asked him to return. He was reunited with his parents

St. Patrick studied to become a priest. He was ordained a priest by St. Germanus who was the bishop he studied under. He was ordained a priest, then a Bishop. As Bishop he was sent back to Ireland. Many people converted under his guidance. St. Patrick is known for using the shamrock to explain the Trinity. He served as the Bishop of Ireland for forty years. Many miracles are attributed to St. Patrick.

St. Patrick wrote “The Confession of St. Patrick” which tells about his passionate faith and the trials he experienced. St. Patrick died in Saul, where he built his first church, on March 17, 461

The Breastplate of St. Patrick

Christ be behind me, Christ be before me,
Christ be beside me…King of my heart.
Christ be within me, Christ be below me,
Christ be above me…never to part.
Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me…shield in the strife.
Christ in my sitting, Christ in my sleeping,
Christ in my rising…light of my life.

(may be sung to Morning has Broken)

March is the Month of St. Joseph

St. Patrick in Art

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Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Julian of Antioch, Feast Day March 16

March 15, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Julian of Antioch is celebrated on March 16.

St. Julian was born in Anazarbus, Cilicia (Turkey). He was arrested for being a Christian during the persecutions of Diocletian in 305 A.D.

St. Julian refused to renounce his faith resulting in his being tortured and paraded through the city of Cilicia. After being sentenced to death, his body was sewn into a sack filled with vipers and scorpions and then cast into the sea. When the sack was recovered, the remains of St. Julian were sent to Alexandria and then to Antioch where St. John Chrysostom gave the eulogy at his burial.

Jesus stretches out His arms on the cross to embrace sinners.

Quote of St. John XXIII; Feast day October 11

March is the Month of St. Joseph

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Louise de Marillac, Feast Day March 15

Quote March 14, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Louise de Marillac is celebrated on March 15.

Louise was born in 1591 in Meux, France into a noble family. Her mother died while she was quite young. Her father eventually placed her with the royal Dominican monastery in Poissy. At the age of 15, her father also died. She requested entry in the Capuchins but was denied due to her frail health.

Several years later, Louise married Antony Le Gras. They had one son, Michel. When her husband became ill, Louise became severely depressed. In 1619, while in Paris, she met St. Francis de Sales, who became her spiritual advisor. Her depression came to an end after a spiritual experience during a Mass on Pentecost. She described her experience in the following way:

“On the Feast of Pentecost during Holy Mass or while I was praying in the church, my mind was completely freed of all doubt. I was advised that I should remain with my husband and the time would come when I would be in the position to make vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and that I would be in a small community where others would do the same.”

Louise’s husband died three years after this experience. She decided never to marry again and to serve God alone. She sold her home and moved into a small home which was near St. Vincent de Paul who became her advisor. While still raising her son and managing her home she helped St. Vincent to begin the Daughters of Charity. St. Vincent said “Your convent will be the house of the sick; your cell, a hired room; your chapel, the parish church; your cloister, the streets of the city or the wards of the hospital; your enclosure, obedience.

Louise was very hard working and courageous. Eventually there were over 40 housed which she started in France. She also established hospitals and orphanages.

Louise died on March 15, 1660. She was beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934.

Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them my children, as you would honor Christ himself.

Quote of St. Louise de Marillac

March is the Month of St. Joseph

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Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Matilda, Feast Day March 14

March 13, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra 2 Comments

St. Matilda is the patron saint of widows and second wives. Her feast day is celebrated on March 14.

St. Matilda was born in 895. She was raised by her grandmother, the Abbess of Eufurt Convent. Matilda married Henry the Fowler who was the son of the Duke Otto of Saxony, whose first marriage had been declared invalid. He eventually became the King of Germany.

Widowed in 936, St. Matilda was known for her generosity towards charities. This estranged her from her sons, Otto and Henry. They became angry and criticized her extravagance. She decided to retire to a country home. In time, her sons asked for forgiveness welcoming her back to the palace.

St. Matilda built many churches, convents and monasteries. She lived her final years at the convent at Nordausen. She died at the monastery at Quedlinberg on March 14, 968 where she is buried.

Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.

Quote of St. Rose of Lima; Feast day August 23

March is the Month of St. Joseph

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The Mystery of Faith

Tag Archives: Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Joseph, Feast Day March 19

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Feast Day March 18

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Patrick, Feast Day March 17

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Julian of Antioch, Feast Day March 16

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Louise de Marillac, Feast Day March 15

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Matilda, Feast Day March 14

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